A fourteen-day photography adventure to Croatia with Branimir Gjetvaj; visit one of the most beautiful natural and historic regions of southern Europe. Details for the 2023 Croatia Photo Tour are being finalized. We will announce the final itinerary and tour cost in December of 2022. Check out the main 2023 Croatia Photo Tour page for information about the registration, travel arrangements etc.
Travel itinerary for the 2023 Croatia Photo Tour:
Day 1 (October 1, 2023): Zagreb
Arrival in the Croatian capital Zagreb, the city of parks and cafés. Check-in at a hotel located close to the historic downtown core. Recovery from the trip.
What is included: accommodation, dinner, transfer from the airport.
Day 2 (October 2, 2023): Zagreb
After breakfast, we will explore the city by minibus in company of an English-speaking local guide. Tour of Donji Grad (Zagreb city core), Opera House, Mimara Museum complex, Green Horseshoe (inter-connected complex of city parks) and Mirogoj cemetery. After the orientation bus tour, we will explore the narrow streets and red-tiled roofs of the Upper Town on foot. We will visit the Zagreb Cathedral, Dolac – main farmer’s market with it’s picturesque red umbrellas, Stone Gate and the cobblestone streets of Gradec, colourful St. Mark church and the Lotrscak Tower.
Maksimir Park in autumn, Zagreb
Rest in the afternoon or explore the medieval Upper Town; Branimir will provide tips on where to go. If there is interest, we will go for an easy stroll and photograph beautifully landscaped Maksimir City Park. A perfect activity to get some fresh air after a long flight. Crime rates are low, and you will feel safe photographing the city. We will meet as a group in the evening for dinner and tour orientation. Overnight in Zagreb.
What is included: accommodation, all meals, bus tour with a local, english-speaking guide.
A stroll along Radiceva Street will take you from Zagreb downtown to the historic Upper Town, and transport you back in time
Strossmayer Promenade with a sculpture of Croatian poet Antun Gustav Matos – a short walk from our hotel
Nikola Subic Zrinjski Square – part of the Green Horshesoe complex of city parks in downtown Zagreb
Cupolas at the Mirogoj Cemetery, a Zagreb landmark designed by the famous architect Hermann Bollé
Day 3 (October 3, 2023): Hrvatsko Zagorje (Trakoscan Castle, Varazdin)
After breakfast, we will board the bus for an all-day trip through Hrvatsko Zagorje, a region rich in history and photo opportunities. We will drive through gently rolling hills of rural Zagorje dotted with vineyards and small Baroque churches. Our destination is the picture-perfect Trakoscan castle built on a forested hill side. Optional walk around the Trakoscan lake.
* alternate: if maintenance work on Trakoscan lake is not completed by the fall of 2023, we will visit the Veliki Tabor castle instead.
A picture-perfect Trakoscan castle (13th century)
Veliki Tabor castle (12 – 16th century) in Hrvatsko Zagorje
After Trakoscan, we will drive to Varazdin, a town considered to be the best preserved and richest urban complex in continental Croatia. We will photograph along cobblestone streets with a lot of character, colourful Baroque palaces in the old town and the impressive Varazdin Fortress. Dinner in Varazdin. Return and overnight in Zagreb.
Included: accommodation, all meals, entrance to the Trakoscan or Veliki Tabor castle.
King Tomislav square in the centre of Varazdin
Gallery of Old and Contemporary Masters (located in the rococo-style Sermage Palace), Varazdin
Day 4 (October 4, 2023): Motovun, Rovinj
After breakfast, we will board the bus for a 250 km drive to Istrian Peninsula, affectionately known as the ‘Second Tuscany’. Our first stop will be the the walled town of Motovun, a medieval settlement built on top a hill in the river Mirna valley, 270 metres (886 feet) above sea level. See a 3-minute video about Motovun.
View of vineyards surrounding the medieval town of Motovun, with a morning fog in Mirna River valley
Loggia at the entrance to town of Motovun, Istria
After Motovun, we will head up to coastal town of Rovinj, considered to be one of the most beautiful towns on the Istrian Peninsula. We will explore and photograph its beautiful Venetian architecture, narrow cobblestone streets, harmonious colours of house facades, and rich archaeological and cultural heritage. One stop will include the large church of St. Eufemija, on top of a hill with a stunning view. Watch a 4-minute Rovinj walkabout video. Dinner and overnight stay in Rovinj.
Cobblestone street in the old city of Rovinj, considered to be one of the most beautiful towns on the Istrian peninsula
Coastal town of Rovinj at twilight, Istria
Included: accommodation, all meals, entrance to Motovun.
Day 5 (October 5, 2023): Pula, Briuni National Park
After breakfast and a short drive to Pula, we will spend some time photographing the 1st century amphitheatre which is among the six largest surviving Roman arenas in the world, and several other well-preserved buildings from ancient Roman times.
Arena – remains of the Roman amphitheatre in Pula (among the six largest surviving Roman arenas in the world)
Detail of the Arena, Roman amphitheatre in Pula, Istria
After Pula we will take a boat ride and visit Brijuni National Park. Fascinated by the beauty of Brijuni islands, former Yugoslav president Josip Broz Tito choose them for his residence, where he played a host to prominent political and public figures of 20th century. We will photograph the Park’s natural beauty, paleontological traces of dinosaur movements and archeological sites dating from the Roman Empire. Return and overnight stay in Rovinj.
Included: accommodation, all meals, entrance and tour of the Arena Roman amphitheatre and other historic buildings, entrance fee to the Brijuni National Park.
Day 6 (October 6, 2023): Opatija, Plitvice Lakes National Park
Early morning photography around Rovinj. Leave the town by mid morning and start driving to Plitvice Lakes National Park.
We will stop along the way for a break and photography walk around Opatija (follow the link, and scroll down the page for image gallery). The town, then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, emerged as a popular tourist destination in 1840s as an upscale, elegant resort and was popular with nobility, royalty and the celebrities of the time.
Kanjon Kamacnik (Kamacnik river canyon) in autumn. Vrbovsko, Gorski Kotar
After Opatija, we will drive through the mountanous region of Gorski Kotar and stop in Vrbovsko for lunch. After lunch, we will burn a few callories with a short hike along a small but amazingly beautiful Kamacnik river canyon. Trail could be wet and slippery so make sure you have proper walking shoes ready.
Included: accommodation, all meals.
Aerial view of Sastavci waterfalls, Plitvice Lakes National Park (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
Waterfall dream, Plitvice Lakes National Park
Day 7 (October 7, 2023): Plitvice Lakes National Park
Full day of photography in the national park. If you are looking for a few places to visit and photograph in your lifetime, Plitvice Lakes National Park should be one of them. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Plitvice boasts 16 turquoise lakes inter-connected with hundreds of waterfalls and spectacular karst formations. The lakes are surrounded by 29,000 ha of beautiful beech and conifer forests. Watch short videos about Upper Lakes and Lower Lakes, Plitvice NP.
Included: accommodation, all meals, entrance fee to the Plitvice Lakes National Park.
Detail of Veliki Prstavac waterfall, Plitvice Lakes National Park
Along the lake. Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia
Day 8 (October 8, 2023): Zadar
After breakfast, we will drive to the coastal town of Zadar. A walking tour of the old Zadar and historical buildings with a local guide: St. Donat church from the 9th century, Cathedral Sv. Stosije (St. Anastasija) and the Bell Tower, the city walls. In the evening we will photograph the “Sea Organ” and “Greeting to the Sun” architectural displays at sunset.
Included: accommodation, all meals, entrance fees to historic buildings and guided tour of Zadar with a local, english-speaking guide.
Church of St. Donatus (Crkva Svetog Donata) in Zadar
‘Greeting to the Sun’ architectural display, Zadar
Day 9 (October 9, 2023): Zadar, Šibenik
After breakfast, we will leave Zadar for a short drive and stop for tour and lunch at konoba Roca. Drive to Šibenik for afternoon and sunset photography. Old town Šibenik probably my favourite place to capture the beauty and spirit of Croatian coastal towns (link to a 6-minute video about the Šibenik region). Overnight stay in Šibenik.
Included: accommodation, all meals.
Street scene in old Šibenik
Skyline view of the old town of Šibenik at dusk.
Day 10 (October 10, 2023): Šibenik, Trogir
Our hotel in Šibenik is just a few minute walk from the Cathedral of Cv. Jakov (St. James), one the most important architectural monuments of the Renaissance in Croatia. Since 2000, the Šibenik Cathedral has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List. A unique feature of this monument is a remarkable frieze decorated with 74 small Renaissance portraits immortalizing important Šibenik nobles and citizens of the era.
The Cathedral of St. James (Katedrala sv. Jakova) in Šibenik
After Šibenik, we will drive a short distance to Trogir and tour the town accompanied by a local guide. Trogir is a remarkable example of urban architecture, listed as the UNESCO World Heritage Site. We will tour the city core with numerous buildings from 13th century, the city gate and walls, the Duke’s palace from 13th century, and highlight of this location: the Cathedral of Sv. Lovre (St. Lawrence) with the Romanesque portal by Master Radovan, a unique work of this Croatian artist. Overnight in Trogir.
Included: accommodation, all meals, entrance fees to the historic buildings and guided tour of Trogir with a local, english-speaking guide.
Trogir, a UNESCO World Heritage Site at twilight
Day 11 (October 11, 2023): Split, Dubrovnik
After Trogir, we will spend a large part of the day in Split and tour the city accompanied by a local guide. Split is centered on the ancient Roman Palace of the Emperor Diocletian from 4th century, another UNESCO World Heritage Site. We will explore the monumental court called the Peristyle (designed with a prominent Venetian influence), underground complex of the Diocletian’s Palace, the Jupiter’s Temple, and the Cathedral of St. Domnius. Later in the day we will leave for Dubrovnik, 260 km to the south-east. Overnight in Dubrovnik.
Included: accommodation, all meals, entrance fees to the historic buildings and guided tour of Split with a local, english-speaking guide.
Split – Prokurative, a neo-Renaissance style square built to resemble the St. Mark’s Square in Venice
Peristil – part of the Diocletian palace from Roman times. Split
Day 12 (October 12, 2023): Dubrovnik
We will sped two days photographing the ‘Pearl of the Adriatic’ – the walled city of Dubrovnik. It is our last UNESCO World Heritage Site on the tour. We will spend our first morning checking out the locations assisted by a local tour guide: gates to the ancient city, Franciscan and Dominican monasteries, Rector’s Palace and others. In the afternoon we will go by boat to the nearby 72-hectare wooded island of Lokrum where according to legend, Richard the Lionheart was cast ashore after being shipwrecked in 1192. The island includes a fortress, botanical garden and a protected nature park with a small, 10-metre deep lake. We will be able to photograph details of an abandoned monastery and enjoy a gorgeous view of Dubrovnik city wall just a short distance away. Return to Dubrovnik and sunset shoot of city walls and Stradun, Dubrovnik’s main street. Overnight in Dubrovnik.
Included: accommodation, all meals, a guided tour of Dubrovnik with a local guide, boat ride and entrance fee to the Lokrum Nature Reserve.
Part of the city walls and harbour, Dubrovnik
Botanical garden on the island of Lokrum
Day 13 (October 13, 2023): Dubrovnik
Full day in Dubrovnik to photograph and explore the city at your leisure. We will leave early to avoid the crowds and mid-day heat to walk along the city walls (link to a 5-minute video). Branimir will be available if you have any questions or need assistance. Sunset photography of Dubrovnik vistas. Overnight in Dubrovnik.
Included: accommodation, breakfast and dinner (note: optional group lunch, depending on your preference), entrance ticket for the tour of Dubrovnik city walls. You will receive a one-day Dubrovnik Pass, a unique pass allowing entry into 12 cultural and historical monuments and top Dubrovnik attractions.
In front of Rector’s Palace, Dubrovnik
View of Dubrovnik old town from city walls
Day 14 (October 14, 2023): Dubrovnik
Free time after breakfast, until scheduled transfer to the airport for departure flights. Please contact Branimir before booking your outgoing flight – we will try to arrange a group transport to the Dubrovnik airport near Cilipi, about 30 minute drive from Dubrovnik city centre. If you have to book an afternoon or evening flight and decide to spend extra time in Dubrovnik, your travel luggage can be stored in the hotel.
Included: breakfast, transfer to the airport for departure flights.
The last rays on sunlight on Dubrovnik city walls
Stradun – Dubrovnik’s main street at night
Return to the main 2023 Croatia Photography Tour page.
Return to the Photography workshops and tours page.
Dr. Branimir Gjetvaj is a biologist and internationally published environmental photographer specializing in western Canadian landscapes. He leads photography workshops and photo tours, and gives public presentations on photography, natural history and conservation biology topics.